It has been a long time since anyone other than Dexter was considered a preseason Eastern Maine Class C girls basketball favorite.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a clear-cut preseason darling. Far from it.

Now that defending Class D state champion Lee Academy has moved up to Class C, many coaches feel the contest will be to figure out the Pandas’ opposition for the regional title game.

Like Dexter, many teams graduated key parts of their lineups. That means the region is full of young teams.

The exception, of course, is Lee Academy, which has all five starters back. The pressure’s on for the Pandas.

“We’re gonna be solid, there’s no doubt,” Lee coach Ron Weatherbee said. “But it’s going to be a challenge for these kids to step up to Class C. Nobody’s going to sit back and say, ‘Oh, Lee, they’re good.’ We’re going to come out and have to play every night in order to be successful at the Class C level.”

The Pandas feature two of the top players in the state in Amanda Gifford and Aarika Ritchie and three other senior starters – guard Brooke Harris and forwards Dana Houghton and Karin Bird – who are much more than role players.

Lee’s bench will include senior Laci McLaughlin and junior Heidi Sappier.

Dexter, the five-time defending EM Class C champs, graduated all but one starter, point guard Miranda Gove. Michelle Chapman, who had a good season off the bench last year, also returns, as does Ashley Richardson.

Houlton and Fort Kent, which both made the tournament last year, will likely have strong years.

The Shiretowners return four starters, including 6-2 center Rachel Foster, who is considered one of the best in the state at her position.

The rest of the starting lineup will be sophomore guard Vanessa Sanderson, senior guard Emily Bartlett and junior forward Desiree Dow. Foster and Bartlett are in their fourth seasons on varsity.

Coach Shawn Graham is looking for more offense from his guards.

“What we’ve lacked is shooting, but I think that’s coming now,” he said. “Teams look to double-team Rachel inside, so we need that shooting for when she kicks it outside.”

The Shires are also hoping their bench will help out. Those players include forward Lainey Herring, who may take some of the pressure off Foster inside, along with guards Martha McPartland and Courtney Putnam.

The Warriors’ prospects dimmed somewhat with the news that standout forward Melissa Albert will miss at least a month of the season while she tries to come back from a knee injury. Fort Kent still has sharpshooting guard Emily Pelletier, along with fellow guard Taylor Boucher.

Calais, Washington Academy of East Machias and Narraguagus of Harrington are all expected to contend this winter.

The always-tough Blue Devils lost three starters, but there’s a lot to like about Calais this year despite the fact there are no seniors on the team. For one, coach Bob McShane can put four players all 5-10 or taller on the floor at the same time.

Nicole Osborne (6-0), Chelsea Karvia (5-11) and Hillary Hollingdale and Kayla Beaton (both 5-10) make up a good crew of forwards and center.

Tessa Clark and Courtney Hill are returning starters at the guard positions.

“As far as talent, this is the most talented team I’ve had at Calais,” said McShane, who is in his 21st year. “But it’s also the lowest-skilled team I’ve ever coached. They’ll have to work if they want to have that skill by the end of the season.”

Washington Academy will have a new look this year as last season’s tall forwards and centers graduated.

“It’s a small lineup, but we’ll be pretty quick,” said coach Gary Wood, whose daughter Kayla will again run the point.

“We’ll be pretty good defensively, struggle offensively some nights.”

The rest of the lineup includes forward-center Andi Flannery, forward Carilla Fritz, guard-forward Breanna Nicely, and forward Kaitlyn Sprangers. Wood and Flannery started last year.

Senior Donna Price, who didn’t play last year, along with junior Irene Lewey and freshman Taylor Seeley will provide depth at the forward positions.

The Raiders played a lot of zone press last year. This year, Wood said, the team’s speed means they’ll probably play more man defense.

Players such as senior guard Courtney Foss, junior forward Jessica Tenan and 6-2 sophomore center Andrea Perry are the reason many coaches are also keeping their eyes on Narraguagus.

George Stevens of Blue Hill didn’t lose any starters and added one player who sat out last year. The Eagles’ returning starters include shooting guard Maddi Park, point guard Emily Peake, guard Alida Peake and 6-0 center Katie Ahern. India Frasier, a 5-9 forward who didn’t play last year, is on the roster this year.

Marina Van der Eb, who started last year, will provide key minutes at the forward position. Stevie Theoharidis and Carli Davis will be the top guard on the bench.

“I go 10 deep and they’re very equal across the board,” coach Donald Allen said. “If we have any luck I think we can go deep in the tournament.”